Yuval Sharon, a prominent figure in the opera world, is set to deliver the Berlin Family Lectures at the University of Chicago on May 6, 13, and 20. Sharon is known for his innovative work with The Industry, a Los Angeles opera company known for bringing opera to unconventional locations like parking lots, abandoned buildings, and train stations.
This year’s Berlin Family Lectures will feature Sharon’s series titled "Anarchy at the Opera," which will explore new approaches to opera through experimentation and collaboration. The final lecture will include a performance of John Cage’s Europera 5. Events will take place both in-person at the Logan Center for the Arts and online via Zoom. Registration is available to all at no cost.
Deborah L. Nelson, dean of the Division of the Arts & Humanities, remarked, “Yuval Sharon’s approach to opera is perfectly aligned with UChicago’s community of scholars and artists—leveraging a dynamic interplay of history, theory, and practice to catalyze new and inspiring forms of collaborative research and creative intelligence.”
Sharon's career is marked by accolades such as the Götz Friedrich Prize and a MacArthur Fellowship. Recently, he was appointed the Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director of the Detroit Opera and is participating as the inaugural Global Solutions Visiting Fellow at UChicago's Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society. His work focuses on breaking down barriers in opera, making it accessible to diverse audiences.
His upcoming projects include directing Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera. In a recent Q&A, Sharon discussed taking opera outside traditional venues to challenge the conventional relationship between artist and audience. This approach extends to questioning fixed elements of narratives, similar to theatrical interpretations of Shakespeare.
In addition to his artistic contributions, Sharon aims to influence how opera institutions consider sustainability and relationships with audiences. He expressed that opera, while perceived as hierarchical, is in fact highly collaborative. Sharon's lectures will explore this notion, drawing on the work of John Cage to illustrate a vision for opera's future.
Sharon's collaboration with the Neubauer Collegium has supported various projects, including a production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and the development of his Ring cycle for the Metropolitan Opera. Sharon notes the rich community at UChicago has contributed significantly to his work.
The upcoming Berlin Family Lectures will conclude with John Cage’s Europera 5, which Sharon credits with shaping his views on opera. He describes it as embodying a "friendly anarchy" or "joyful chaos," directly tying into the themes of his talks.
Further details and registration are available on the Berlin Family Lectures website.